Landlords, farmers, agri-business professionals should make plans to attend one of the informative meetings being held across Minnesota.  These free meetings are being provided by the University of Minnesota Extension.  Farm land rental rates are the largest input cost the farmer has.  Determining a fair farm rent agreement is a challenge in today’s economy with current low … [Read more...]

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting grant applications for applied crop research that promotes economic growth and environmentally sustainable practices. The MDA anticipates awarding up to $1,050,000 in February 2020 for proposals that will improve agricultural product quality, quantity, or value in Minnesota. Research projects are preferred that … [Read more...]

Combines are one of the largest pieces of harvest equipment and operating them safely can greatly enhance harvest efficiency. John Long, Assistant Professor & Extension Ag Engineer at Oklahoma State University Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering department, says focusing on safety during harvest can help farmers avoid bodily harm and complete harvest in a more … [Read more...]

Higher performance, increased sustainability and lower cost — these are just a few of the demands that today’s modern customers expect from the home improvement industry. For companies relying on petroleum or formaldehyde in their products, this can seem like a challenging ask. But many find their sustainable solution in soy. “Choosing soy is a win-win,” said Lee Walko, … [Read more...]

A career in agriculture can prove richly rewarding. While it's common to envision overalls and tractors when imagining careers in agriculture, the opportunities to work in the agriculture industry stretch beyond the farm and into the corporate world. The following are a few of the paths men and women with a passion for agriculture can pursue. • Business: Agriculture is big … [Read more...]

Halloween takes place during a time of year characterized by earthen-colored chrysanthemums, leaf-lined walkways and crisp autumn air. As colorful as the costumes children wear for trick-or-treating may be, nature's beauty is unsurpassed this time of year, and the scores of pumpkins, gourds and squashes on display only add to that colorful melange. The Cucurbitaceae family … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON, October 15, 2019 – Agricultural producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs – two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs – for the 2020 crop year. Meanwhile, producers who enrolled farms for the 2018 crop year have started receiving more than $1.5 billion for covered commodities for which … [Read more...]

The family automobile is not the only piece of equipment that requires routine upkeep to ensure it is operating properly. Life on a farm can come to a screeching halt if farm equipment is not properly maintained. Farmers invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on agricultural equipment, such as tractors, tillers, hoppers, and dozers. Adhering to maintenance schedules can … [Read more...]

Though it’s easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasingly influential sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what’s driving your economy. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in a nation’s economic development and prosperity. From the earliest days, agriculture has been heralded as playing a … [Read more...]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agriculture is among the most hazardous industries. Fatal and nonfatal injuries pose a significant threat to farmers, including the many young people who work on farms. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in an effort to promote productive and safe workplaces, supports programs that conduct … [Read more...]

After crops are harvested, Minnesota livestock producers will be applying billions of gallons or pounds of stored manure to cropland. Wet weather is complicating the harvest, but it also plays a role in proper manure management. To get the most value from manure as fertilizer and to avoid manure runoff that could pollute nearby lakes and streams, the Minnesota Pollution … [Read more...]

The agricultural industry provides a variety of opportunities to professionals interested in this often misunderstood field. According to the employment resource AGCareers.com, more than 250 career profiles are available to people interested in a career in agriculture. And while jobs in agriculture may not be as prevalent as they were a few centuries ago, when 72% of the … [Read more...]

By Tyler Waugh www.rearviewsafety.com I’m going back to Kansas for my cousin’s wedding this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited. I get to see my entire family and spend one last time in my childhood home before my parents sell it and move to a bigger city. I’m also very pumped for the open road. As I’ll be driving a lot on rural roads, here are some tips from the Farm … [Read more...]